Adlite rich media solutions without presentation requiring use of a video player

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides techniques relating to rich media advertising. Techniques are provided in which an advertiser-provided image-based component of an advertisement creative is matched with an advertiser-provided audio component of the advertisement creative. A rich media advertisement may be served that includes the image-based component and a synchronously presented audio component. Presentation of the rich media advertisement on a user computer may not require downloading or utilization of a video player.

BACKGROUND

Rich media, and particularly video content and advertising, hasgenerally been found to be more engaging and effective in eliciting userresponse than, for instance, standard graphical content and advertising.

Video content and advertising, however, has a number of drawbacks orpotential drawbacks. For example, video is generally very heavy in termsof data and required bandwidth, which can cause downloading delays andother problems, especially for downloading or delivery to lowerbandwidth users. Additionally, downloading of a video player can betime-consuming. Furthermore, video content and advertising can bedifficult and time-consuming to create.

There is a need, for example, for content and advertising that providesa high degree of user engagement and high user response rates whileavoiding drawbacks associated with video content and advertising.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods relatingto rich media advertising. Techniques are provided in which anadvertiser-provided image-based component of an advertisement creativeis matched with an advertiser-provided audio component of theadvertisement creative. A rich media advertisement may be served thatincludes the image-based component and a synchronously presented audiocomponent. The image-based component and the audio-based component maybe elements of a companion advertisement.

In some embodiments, utilization of the rich media advertisement may beprovided as an option to an advertiser to advertising utilizing a videoadvertisement, such as an option that may be used to target lowerbandwidth users.

In some embodiments, presentation of the rich media advertisement on auser computer may not require downloading or utilization of a videoplayer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a distributed computer system according to one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

While the invention is described with reference to the above drawings,the drawings are intended to be illustrative, and the inventioncontemplates other embodiments within the spirit of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a distributed computer system 100 according to one embodimentof the invention. The system 100 includes user computers 104, advertisercomputers 106 and server computers 108, all coupled or able to becoupled to the Internet 102. Although the Internet 102 is depicted, theinvention contemplates other embodiments in which the Internet is notincluded, as well as embodiments in which other networks are included inaddition to the Internet, including one more wireless networks, WANs,LANs, telephone, cell phone, or other data networks, etc. The inventionfurther contemplates embodiments in which user computers or othercomputers may be or include wireless, portable, or handheld devices suchas cell phones, smart phone, PDAs, tablets, etc.

Each of the one or more computers 104, 106, 108 may be distributed, andcan include various hardware, software, applications, algorithms,programs and tools. Depicted computers may also include a hard drive,monitor, keyboard, pointing or selecting device, etc. The computers mayoperate using an operating system such as Windows by Microsoft, etc.Each computer may include a central processing unit (CPU), data storagedevice, and various amounts of memory including RAM and ROM. Depictedcomputers may also include various programming, applications, algorithmsand software to enable searching, search results, and advertising, suchas graphical or banner advertising as well as keyword searching andadvertising in a sponsored search context. Many types of advertisementsare contemplated, including textual advertisements, rich advertisements,video advertisements, coupon-related advertisements, group-relatedadvertisements, social networking-related advertisements, etc.

As depicted, each of the server computers 108 includes one or more CPUs110 and a data storage device 112. The data storage device 112 includesa database 116 and a Rich Media Advertising Program 114.

The Program 114 is intended to broadly include all programming,applications, algorithms, software and other and tools necessary toimplement or facilitate methods and systems according to embodiments ofthe invention. The elements of the Program 114 may exist on a singleserver computer or be distributed among multiple computers or devices.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 200 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 202, the method 200 includes, usingone or more computers, obtaining from an advertiser a rich mediacompanion advertisement creative, the companion advertisement creativeincluding an image-based component including one or more images, and acompanion audio component, including obtaining from the advertiser theimage-based component and obtaining from the advertiser the companionaudio component.

At step 204, the method 200 includes, using one or more computers,serving a rich media advertisement for presentation on a user computer,in which the rich media advertisement includes the image-based componentand the companion audio component, and in which presentation of theimage-based component is timed to be synchronized with presentation ofthe audio component.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 300 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 302, the method includes, using oneor more computers, obtaining from an advertiser a rich media companionadvertisement creative, the companion advertisement creative includingan image-based component including one or more images, and a companionaudio component, including obtaining from the advertiser the image-basedcomponent and obtaining from the advertiser the companion audiocomponent.

At step 304, the method 300 includes, using one or more computers,serving a rich media advertisement for presentation on a user computer,in which the rich media advertisement includes the image-based componentand the companion audio component, in which presentation of theimage-based component is timed to be synchronized with presentation ofthe audio component. The image-based component includes a series ofimages for sequential display, and in which serving the rich mediaadvertisement includes serving the series of images such that each ofthe images in the sequence is timed to coincide with matching portionsof the audio component. The method 300 includes obtaining, from theadvertiser, the rich media companion advertisement creative and acounterpart video advertisement creative associated with a videoadvertisement. The rich media advertisement creative is for serving therich media advertisement to lower bandwidth users and the videoadvertisement is for serving to higher bandwidth users. The method 300further includes, prior to selecting either the rich media advertisementor the video advertisement for serving, detecting whether the user is alower bandwidth user or a higher bandwidth user, and, if the user is alower bandwidth user, serving the rich media advertisement, and, if theuser is a higher bandwidth user, serving the video advertisement. It isto be noted that, while some embodiments are described herein in whichthe rich media ads are shown to lower bandwidth users, other embodimentsare contemplated. For example, in some embodiments, an advertiser maychoose for the rich media ads to be shown to both low bandwidth and highbandwidth users, or to any users.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 400 according to oneembodiment of the invention. Step 402 includes, using one or morecomputers, obtaining from an advertiser a rich media advertisementcreative, the rich media advertisement creative including an image-basedcomponent, including one or more images, and an audio component,including obtaining from the advertiser the image-based component andobtaining from the advertiser the audio component.

Step 404 includes, using one or more computers, serving a rich mediaadvertisement for presentation on a user computer, in which the richmedia advertisement includes the image-based component and the audiocomponent, in which presentation of the image-based component is timedto be synchronized with presentation of the audio component. Advertisingutilizing the rich media advertisement is provided as an option to anadvertiser to advertising utilizing a video advertisement, in which theoption is at least in part for targeting lower bandwidth users thanusers targeted with one or more video advertisements.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 502, the method 500 includes, usingone or more computers, obtaining from an advertiser a rich mediaadvertisement creative, the rich media advertisement creative includingan image-based component, including one or more images, and an audiocomponent, including obtaining from the advertiser the image-basedcomponent and obtaining from the advertiser the audio component.

At step 504, the method 500 includes, using one or more computers,serving a rich media advertisement for presentation on a user computer,in which the rich media advertisement includes the image-based componentand the audio component, in which presentation of the image-basedcomponent is timed to be synchronized with presentation of the audiocomponent. Advertising utilizing the rich media advertisement isprovided as an option to an advertiser to advertising utilizing a videoadvertisement, in which the option is at least in part for targetinglower bandwidth users than users targeted with one or more videoadvertisements. The audio component is a companion audio component tothe image-based component. The image-based component includes a seriesof images for sequential display. Serving the rich media advertisementincludes serving the series of images such that each of the images inthe sequence is timed to coincide with matching portions of the audiocomponent. Providing the option to the advertiser includes providing theadvertiser with an opportunity for easier creation of an advertisementcreative relative to creation of a counterpart video advertisementcreative.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 600 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 602, the method 600 includes, usingone or more computers, obtaining from an advertiser a rich mediaadvertisement creative, the rich media advertisement creative includingan image-based component, including one or more images, and an audiocomponent, including obtaining from the advertiser the image-basedcomponent and obtaining from the advertiser the audio component.

At step 604, the method 600 includes, using one or more computers,serving a rich media advertisement for presentation on a user computer,in which the rich media advertisement includes the image-based componentand an audio component, in which presentation of the image-basedcomponent is timed to be synchronized with presentation of the audiocomponent, in which the rich media advertisement is such thatpresentation of the rich media advertisement on a user computer does notrequire utilization of a video player.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 700 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 702, the method 700 includes, usingone or more computers, obtaining from an advertiser a rich mediaadvertisement creative, the rich media advertisement creative includingan image-based component, including one or more images, and an audiocomponent, including obtaining from the advertiser the image-basedcomponent and obtaining from the advertiser the audio component.

At step 704, the method 700 includes, using one or more computers,serving a rich media advertisement for presentation on a user computer,in which the rich media advertisement includes the image-based componentand an audio component, in which presentation of the image-basedcomponent is timed to be synchronized with presentation of the audiocomponent. The image-based component includes a series of images forsequential display. Serving the rich media advertisement includesserving the series of images such that each of the images in thesequence is timed to coincide with matching portions of the audiocomponent. The rich media advertisement is such that presentation of therich media advertisement on a user computer does not require utilizationof a video player.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram 800 illustrating one embodiment of theinvention. Block 804 represents a video ad. Block 802 represents anassociated video ad creative, such as, for example, a video, videocontent, or parameters or characteristics of such, that an advertisermay designate, provide, or upload for the video ad.

Rich media ads according to embodiments of the invention are hereinsometimes referred to as Adlite ads. Block 806 represents an Adlite adaccording to one embodiment of the invention. Also depicted arecomponents of the creative associated with the rich media ad, includingan image-based component, which may include one or more images, and anaudio component. In some embodiments, Adlite ads according toembodiments of the invention may be an option or alternative to videoads.

As represented by block 808, an Adlite ad may have a number ofadvantages, such as relative to counterpart video advertisements. Forexample, Adlite ads may provide sequentially displayed images withclosely matched audio that can provide an engaging, storyboardedvideo-like user experience. Adlite ads may also be much “lighter”, interms of data, than video ads. Furthermore, Adlite ads, includingcreatives, may be easier and faster to design, create, or upload to anad system than video ads, including creatives. Moreover, Adlite ads mayprovide advantages from a user or client-side perspective as well. Forexample, Adlite ads may require less bandwidth in terms of data rates,be faster to download, or be less processing-intensive to present thanvideo ads. Furthermore, presentation of Adlite ads may not require avideo player. Instead, for example, an audio component may bepresentable using an audio player such as may be built into a browser,and images may be presentable using standard image, image series orslide show presentation techniques that do not require a video player.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram 900 illustrating one embodiment of theinvention, depicting ad campaign booking 906, such as an advertiser 902(which can include a proxy or agent of an advertiser) booking one ormore ads with an ad system. As depicted, in some embodiments, theadvertiser 902 may be able to book both a video ad, as depicted by block908, or an Adlite rich media ad, as depicted by block 914, or both.Booking the video ad may include booking a video ad creative 910, andbooking the Adlite ad may include booking an Adlite ad creative 914.Booking the Adlite ad creative may include booking an Adlite companionad bundle, which may include an image-based component 916 and acompanion audio component 918. Although the audio component is describedas a companion to the image-based component, this can alternatively beor include the image-based ad being a companion of the audio component.Generally, the image-based and audio components are elements of acompanion advertisement including both components.

In some embodiments, the video ad and the Adlite ad may be counterpartsof each other, which can mean, for example, that the video ad and theAdlite ad are substantively intended to be very similar and have similarcontent and effect, but be in different formats. For example, the Adlitead may be intended to be served to users with lower bandwidth, whereasthe video ad may be intended to be served to users with higherbandwidth.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram 1000 illustrating one embodiment of theinvention. Block 1012 represents a browser or user session request foran ad. Ad serving 1002 is also depicted, and may be implemented usingone or more server computers.

As depicted, ad serving 1002 may include detection of user or clientbandwidth or bandwidth level or range 1006. If a lower bandwidth orbandwidth level is detected, then ad serving selects Adlite ad bookingand associated image and audio ad creative components 1004. If higherbandwidth or bandwidth level is detected, then ad serving selects videoad booking and an associated video ad creative 1014.

If the Adlite option was selected at block 1004, then an Adlite adserving response 1008 takes place, which may include, for example,utilization of HTML and Javascript with creative or creative componentinformation and content distribution network (CDN) information.

If the video ad option was selected at block 1014, then a video adserving response 1010 takes place, which may include utilization of CDNand creative information and serving of a video ad for presentation onthe client side using a video player.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram 1100 illustrating one embodiment of theinvention, which may be associated with ad serving as depicted in FIG.10. Particularly, block 1102 depicts a selected an Adlite ad response.This may include a client browser fetching the image and audio creativecomponents from the CDN. It may further include the client browserplaying, or presenting, the ad 1106, including the image-based and theaudio components, which may include using image presentation and audiopresentation using of built-in browser audio player.

Block 1104 depicts a selected video ad response. This may include theclient browser fetching the video player and video creative. It may alsoinclude the browser playing the ad 1108 using a video player that wasdownloaded prior to ad serving.

In some embodiments, Adlite rich media ads provide an alternative tovideo advertising. An Adlite ad may provide a level of user engagementand response that is similar to that of a video ad, while providing manyadvantages over typical video ads and ad scenarios, as mentioned above.These advantages can include easier creation and uploading of creativesby advertisers, faster downloading or playing and less bandwidthrequirement on the client side, and an ability for the client to playthe ad without need of a video player, for example.

In some embodiments, companion ad techniques may be used in creation andhandling of Adlite ads. For example, Adlite ads may be booked andtreated as if including essentially two linked ads, or linked creatives.For example, in an ad system, slots may be designated for each ad, Suchslots may typically include an actual size or unit of a graphical ad,for instance. In Adlite ad booking and treatment, two ad slots may beinvolved. The first ad slot may be designated for the image-basedcreative component of an Adlite ad. The second slot may be designatedfor the audio creative component of the Adlite ad. The second slot maynot be associated with an ad size, unit, etc., but may instead be aconceptual slot that serves as a placeholder for the audio ad, and mayserve to help link the image-based and audio creative components bybeing linked to the first slot.

For example, in some embodiments, if Adlite ad booking is selected, anadvertiser may first be prompted to upload an image-based creativecomponent. The advertiser may then be prompted and required to uploadthe companion audio component. In some embodiments, these steps mayinstead include uploading an audio component followed by a companionimage-based component. Furthermore, since the image-based component mayinclude a sequential series of image to be timed to be synchronized withportions of the audio creative, the advertiser may be required todesignate images and associated audio portions, etc. Such sequencing andsynchronization may help enable producing a storyboarded, video likeeffect.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, an Adlite ad and a counterpart videoad may be booked by an advertiser. The Adlite ad may be utilized ifclient bandwidth is detected to be lower, while the video ad may beutilized if the client bandwidth is detected to be higher. The Adlite adand the video ad may different media type or format versions ofessentially the same ad concept, for example.

In some embodiments, Adlite ads provide a rich ad format, which mayprovide users with an engaging ad experience while using standardgraphical creatives and an audio creative type, instead of using videocreatives, which are generally much heavier. This may include matchingan image or an image series with a high quality audio clip to provide anengaging, online video-like experience, for example.

Some embodiments of the invention include a recognition that, generallyunlike video ads, standard image ads have limited capability of tellinga compelling story to users. Rich ads and video ads, and particularlyvideo ads, however, have much higher conversion rates and are moreengaging than standard graphical ad formats. However, video ad creativesare generally orders of magnitude larger in size (heavier) than standardgraphical ads. Furthermore, video ads are generally more expensive ortime consuming to create. In some embodiments, Adlite ads provide manyadvantages of video ads while avoiding many of the disadvantages.

In some embodiments, an Adlite ad contains an image-based component,such as in the format of a standard graphical ad or ads with a few ormore animated slides, as well as an audio component. The audio componentmay be high quality, and may be compressed or compressible, and theimages may also be compressible or compressed. The audio component is acompanion ad or companion creative for the image-based component, orvice-versa.

In some embodiments, during booking, when an advertiser is creating anad campaign, the advertiser is provided with an option to create anAdlite ad, such as by first creating a component including a standardgraphical ad or ad type, and then linking it to a created or specifiedcompanion audio ad, ad creative, or ad creative component. At adserving, for example, when an ad-call comes to the advertising server,an Adlite ad may be served (standard graphical+audio companion), givinga video-ad like experience. A slide-show image-based component, in astandard graphical ad format, for example, may be closely orsynchronously tied to the audio, such that it helps the advertiser totell a compelling story, which may achieve an engagement level similarto that of a video ad.

In some embodiments, the Adlite format will enable, for example,increased the coverage of rich ads in display markets. Furthermore, theAdlite ad may be easier to create than a standard video ad. Adlite adscan provide a solution for advertisers that is cost-effective and yetmaintains high engagement and performance levels.

In some embodiments, Adlite ads can provide a solution for use intargeting lower-bandwidth users and networks, such as may be prevalentin emerging world markets, for instance. For example, in emerging worldmarkets, downloading speeds may be dramatically slower than in moredeveloped markets, such as orders of magnitude slower.

Several disadvantages may be associated with video ads. For example,since video ad creatives are generally orders of magnitude larger indata size than standard graphical ads, downloading a video ad may take aproportionally large amount of time in lower bandwidth networks.Furthermore, video ads generally require a video player to bedownloaded, before the creative can be played in the browser.Downloading the video player may also takes a significant amount oftime, particularly in slower networks, such as may be present inemerging world markets. As such, standard graphical ads are oftenutilized in such markets, but are generally not as engaging as videoads.

Video ads and their presentation may typically involve elementsincluding the visual video component, the audio component, and a videoplayer. Of these, the video visual video component is usually theheaviest, in terms of size and necessary bandwidth use.

Generally, problems faced while serving video ads in low bandwidth areasinclude the following. Downloading the video ad may take noticeableamount of time, adversely affecting user experience, often causing auser to just leave the page. Also, downloading the video player itselftakes a significant amount of time, adding to user experiencedegradation. Notably, high latency, such as in page load, tends toresult in user frustration, causing users to leave pages, which canresult in lower page views and, ultimately, lower click throughs,conversions, and other ad performance metrics.

One method that has been attempted to mitigate video ad problems iscompressing the video creative. However, generally, the visual videocomponent cannot be compressed significantly without a proportional lossin quality. Generally, available compression technology cannot compressthe visual video creatives to, for example, sizes that can be toleratedon dial-up networks or other slow networks. Lower video quality due tocompression, coupled with higher page load time due to the need fordownloading the video player, can lead to substantially lower userengagement, ad performance, and revenue. In some embodiments, Adlite adsprovide a solution, such as by providing a video-like ad experiencewhile avoiding many disadvantages associated with video ads.

In some embodiments, during booking, such as when an advertiser iscreating a video ad campaign, the advertiser is provided with an optionto create an Adlite ad. the Adlite ad may include a standard graphicalformat image-based component plus a companion audio component, such asin addition to a counterpart video ad, but may be targeted to lowbandwidth users.

In some embodiments, during ad-serving time, such as when an ad callcomes to the advertising server, ad serving first detects the user'sbandwidth. If the bandwidth is high or high enough, the video ad may beselected and served. However, if the bandwidth is low or low enough, theAdlite ad may be served instead.

In some embodiments, Adlite ads provide several advantages. In someembodiments, no video player needs to be downloaded at theclient/browser. Generally, standard browsers include an inbuilt audioplayer. In some embodiments, an Adlite image-based component, such as aslideshow in standard graphical ad format, can generally be supported byusing an image format such as one that supports layering/slideshows (forexample, the “GIF” format) or, in some embodiments, through a lightclient side script, for example.

In some embodiments, the audio component of an Adlite ad creative may becompressed, or may be compressed if necessary or under appropriatecircumstances. Adlite audio components may be of high quality, but maybe compressed or compressible much more than a visual video creativewithout significant reduction in quality. Furthermore, compared to atypical video ad, the Adlite format can result a large savings orreduction, such as a ten or fifteen times saving, in overall data sizeor data-transfer, resulting in advantages which can include fasterdownload and a better user-experience. However, Adlite ads may provideengagement levels similar to that of a video ad, and can, for example,allow the advertiser to tell a compelling story even in lower bandwidthnetworks.

While the invention is described with reference to the above drawings,the drawings are intended to be illustrative, and the inventioncontemplates other embodiments within the spirit of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: using one or more computers, providing an advertiser an option to select a rich media advertisement option among other options including a separately displayed option for selecting a non-rich media advertisement, simultaneously on the same display interface screen, during advertisement booking and uploading; using one or more computers, prompting the advertiser, in response to the advertiser selecting the rich media advertisement option, to upload the rich media advertisement creative, wherein the rich media advertisement creative includes at least one non-video format content component including an image-based component, comprising one or more images, and an audio component; and using one or more computers, serving a rich media advertisement, based on information in the rich media advertisement creative, and comprising at least one non-video format content component, such that the rich media advertisement is formatted for presentation on a user computer without utilization of a video player, further comprising: serving, for presentation on the user computer, the image-based component and the audio component; and presenting, on the user computer and without utilization of a video player, the image-based component and the audio component, such that each portion of the image-based component is timed to be synchronized, by the user computer, with presentation of each portion of the audio component, on the user computer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image-based component comprises a series of images for sequential display, and wherein serving the rich media advertisement comprises serving the series of images such that each of the images in the sequence is timed to coincide with matching portions of the audio component.
 3. The method of claim 2, comprising serving the rich media advertisement, wherein the audio component is a companion audio component to the image-based component.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein obtaining the image-based component comprises obtaining images in a standard graphical advertisement creative format.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein matching portions of the audio component are portions that relate to matching images of the series of images, so that synchronized presentation of the images and the audio component is designed to create a video-like effect.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the sequential display of the images is timed to coincide with matching portions of the audio component so as to create an engaging and response-evoking experience for a user.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein matching portions of the audio component are portions that relate to matching images of the series of images, so that synchronized presentation of the images and the companion audio component is designed to create a more engaging effect than standard graphical advertisements.
 8. The method of claim 3, comprising obtaining, from the advertiser, the rich media companion advertisement creative and a counterpart video advertisement creative associated with a video advertisement, wherein the rich media advertisement creative is for serving the rich media advertisement to lower bandwidth users and the video advertisement is for serving to higher bandwidth users.
 9. The method of claim 8, comprising, prior to selecting either the rich media advertisement or the video advertisement for serving, detecting whether the user is a lower bandwidth user or a higher bandwidth user, and, if the user is a lower bandwidth user, serving the rich media advertisement, and, if the user is a higher bandwidth user, serving the video advertisement.
 10. The method of claim 9, comprising, during advertiser advertisement booking, prompting the advertiser to input the rich media advertisement creative and the counterpart video creative.
 11. The method of claim 10, comprising, during advertiser booking of the rich media advertisement, prompting the user to input the image-based component as one or more standard graphical images, and prompting the user to input the audio component.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein matching portions of the audio component are portions that relate to matching images of the one or more images of the image-based component, such that the synchronized presentation, of the one or more images of the image-based component and the matching portions of the audio component, is designed to create a storyboard effect.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prompting the advertiser to input the image-based component and the audio component, and providing a plurality of slots, including at least one creative component slot designated for a content component of the rich media advertisement creative and a conceptual slot designated to link the plurality of slots.
 14. A system comprising: one or more server computers coupled to a network; and one or more databases coupled to the one or more server computers; wherein the one or more server computers are for: providing an advertiser an option to select a rich media advertisement option among other options including a separately displayed option for selecting a non-rich media advertisement, simultaneously on the same display interface screen, during advertisement booking and uploading; prompting the advertiser, in response to the advertiser selecting the rich media advertisement option, to upload the rich media advertisement creative, wherein the rich media advertisement creative includes at least one non-video format content component including an image-based component; and serving a rich media advertisement, based on information in the rich media advertisement creative, and comprising at least one non-video format content component, such that the rich media advertisement is formatted for presentation on a user computer without utilization of a video player, further comprising: serving, for presentation on the user computer, the image-based component and the audio component; and presenting, on the user computer and without utilization of a video player, the image-based component and the audio component, such that each portion of the image-based component is timed to be synchronized, by the user computer, with presentation of each portion of the audio component, on the user computer.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more server computers are coupled to the Internet.
 16. The system of claim 14, comprising serving the rich media advertisement, wherein the rich media advertisement is such that presentation of the rich media advertisement on a user computer does not require that the user first download a video player.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the image-based component comprises a series of images for sequential display, and wherein serving the rich media advertisement comprises serving the series of images such that each of the images in the sequence is timed to coincide with matching portions of the audio component.
 18. The system of claim 17, comprising serving the rich media advertisement, wherein the audio component is a companion audio component to the image-based component.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein matching portions of the audio component are portions that relate to matching images of the series of images, so that synchronized presentation of the images and the audio component is designed to create a video-like effect.
 20. A non-transitory computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a method comprising: using one or more computers, providing an advertiser an option to select a rich media advertisement option among other options including a separately displayed option for selecting a non-rich media advertisement, simultaneously on the same display interface screen, during advertisement booking and uploading; using one or more computers, prompting the advertiser, in response to the advertiser selecting the rich media advertisement option, to upload the rich media advertisement creative, wherein the rich media advertisement creative includes at least one non-video format content component including an image-based component, comprising one or more images, and an audio component; and using one or more computers, serving a rich media , based on information in the rich media advertisement creative, and comprising at least one non-video format content component, such that the rich media advertisement is formatted for presentation on a user computer without utilization of a video player, further comprising: serving, for presentation on the user computer, the image-based component and the audio component; and presenting, on the user computer and without utilization of a video player, the image-based component and the audio component, such that each portion of the image-based component is timed to be synchronized, by the user computer, with presentation of each portion of the audio component, on the user computer; wherein the image-based component comprises a series of images for sequential display, and wherein serving the rich media advertisement comprises serving the series of images such that each of the images in the sequence is timed to coincide with matching portions of the audio component. 